CIVIL RIGHTS AND DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances tit. 7, ch. 142

in effect

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 142.10 Purpose.

142.10. - Purpose. The City of Minneapolis recognizes that nationwide debate has advanced an expanded concept of familial relationships beyond traditional marital and blood relationships. This expanded concept recognizes the relationship of two (2) non-married but committed adult partners. Recognizing this the Minneapolis City Council hereby adopts a process to provide persons to declare themselves as domestic partners, thus enabling employers to voluntarily provide equal treatment in employment benefits for such partners and their dependents. (91-Or-015, § 1, 1-25-91)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 142.20 Definitions.

142.20. - Definitions. (a) Domestic partners are two (2) adults who: (1) Are not related by blood closer than permitted under marriage laws of the state; (2) Are not married or related by marriage; (3) Are competent to enter into a contract; (4) Have no other domestic partner with whom the household is shared, or with whom the adult person has another domestic partner; (5) Are jointly responsible to each other for the necessities of life; (6) Are committed to one another to the same extent as married persons are to each other, except for the traditional marital status and solemnities. (91-Or-015, § 1, 1-25-91)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 142.30 Registration of domestic partners.

142.30. - Registration of domestic partners. (a) The city clerk shall accept an application to register as domestic partners from persons who state in such application that they meet the definition of domestic partners set out in section 142.20(a). Subsequent changes in address shall be promptly reported to the city clerk. (b) The city clerk shall charge an application fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) for the registration of [a] domestic partnership and shall charge a reasonable fee per document for providing certified copies of registrations, amendments or notices of termination. There shall be no charge for filing amendments or notices of termination. (c) The city clerk shall provide each domestic partner with a registration certificate. The registration certificate shall not be issued prior to the third working day after the date of application. (d) This application and certificate may be used as evidence of the existence of a domestic partners relationship. (e) The city clerk shall keep a record of all registrations of domestic partnership, amendments to registrations and notices of termination received by the city clerk. The records shall be maintained so that amendments and notices of termination are filed with the registration of domestic partnership to which they pertain. (f) The application and amendments thereto, the registration certificate, and termination notices shall constitute government data and will be subject to disclosure pursuant to the terms of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. (g) For purposes of Chapters 139 and 142, upon production of valid, government-issued documentation and only to the extent of the rights and responsibilities established therein or elsewhere in the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, the terms "domestic partnership" and "registered domestic partnership" shall include, in addition to domestic partnerships registered with the City of Minneapolis, and regardless of whether partners in either circumstance have sought further registration with the City of Minneapolis: (1) Any person who has a currently registered domestic partnership with a governmental body pursuant to state, local, or other law authorizing such registration. The term domestic partnership should be construed broadly to include same-sex civil unions or other such same-sex unions in which two (2) same-sex individuals are committed to one another to the same extent as married persons are to each other, except for the traditional marital status and solemnities; and (2) Marriages that would be legally recognized as a contract of lawful marriage in another local, state, or foreign jurisdiction. (91-Or-015, § 1, 1-25-91; 2003-Or-109, § 1, 8-22-03)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 142.40 Reserved.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 142.50 Amendments.

142.50. - Amendments. The city clerk may accept amendments for filing from persons who have domestic partnership application on file except amendments which would change the identity of the partners. (91-Or-015, § 1, 1-25-91)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 142.60 Termination of domestic partnership.

142.60. - Termination of domestic partnership. (a) Either person in a domestic partnership may initiate termination of the domestic partnership relationship, by written notification to the city clerk. The city clerk shall promptly notify the other partner at the address of record by certified mail. (b) A domestic partnership terminates when the earlier of the following occurs: (1) One of the partners dies; or (2) Forty-five (45) days after one partner sends the other a written notice of termination that he or she has terminated the partnership by filing a notice of termination with the city clerk; or (3) Forty-five (45) days after the city clerk notified the non-filing partner of the filing of any notice of termination. (c) If any of the criteria under section 142.20(a) 4—6, ceases to exist the parties shall be ineligible for any benefits based upon the domestic partnership unless otherwise provided by law or the employer. (d) If the employee in the domestic partnership has died and if the employer has provided employee benefits, then the non-employee shall be eligible for employee benefits for forty-five (45) days after the death of the employee partner unless the employer has provided otherwise. (91-Or-015, § 1, 1-25-91)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 142.70 Visitation in health care facilities.

142.70. - Visitation in health care facilities. (a) Patient designation. Where a health care facility restricts a patient's visitors, the health care facility shall allow every patient to name those individuals whom the patient wishes to allow to visit, unless: (1) No visitors are allowed; or (2) The facility determines that the presence of a particular visitor named by the patient would endanger the health or safety of a patient or patients, or would endanger the primary operations of the facility. (b) Domestic partners who do not make designations. If a patient with whom visiting is restricted has not made the designation provided for in subsection (a), and if the patient has not indicated that she or he wishes no visitors, the facility must allow the patient's domestic partner, the children of the patient's domestic partner, or the domestic partner of the patient's parent or child to visit, unless: (1) No visitors are allowed, or (2) The facility determines that the presence of a particular visitor would endanger the health or safety of a patient or patients, or would endanger the primary operations of the facility. (c) Health care facility defined. A "health care facility" for the purpose of this article is hospital, sanitarium, or other institution for the hospitalization or care of human beings licensed under Minnesota Statutes, Sections 144.50 to 144.56. (91-Or-015, § 1, 1-25-91)

Source: City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Park and Recreation Board Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mn/minneapolis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT7CIRI_CH142CIRIDOPAFetched: 11/2/2026